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PINE GROVE - If members of the Westboro Baptist Church make good on their promise to picket a funeral of seven Mennonite children killed in a March 8 house fire in Perry County, at least three Pine Grove men say they will be there today in counterprotest.

Russ Stump, 64, of Pine Grove, said that after he and some friends heard of the intentions of the independent Baptist church based in Topeka, Kan. - known for its recent 8-1 Supreme Court victory upholding the right to protest military and other funerals as an act protected by the First Amendment - they were called to action. The court case was filed by a York County father of a Marine killed in Iraq after the church protested and made homophobic statements about his son.

"We just couldn't believe it. Of course it's wrong when they protest the funeral of vets, we think, but we feel it's wrong for them to protest any funeral. We heard that they were coming to protest the funeral of these children and that's not right," Stump, service officer for American Legion Post 374, said in a phone interview Monday.

Stump said he and friends Richard Schollenberger, 64, and Craig Kramer, 60, both of Pine Grove, will become part of thousands who are expected to descend on Blain, a rural town about 40 miles west of Harrisburg, to stand as part of a human chain to show respect for the family and disagreement with the Westboro Baptists.

"This really riled me up. I just feel they have no business whatsoever doing this. The families are grieving enough. They don't need people there rubbing it in their faces. And then they call themselves a church," Kramer said. "I can't even believe what's even going to go through this family's mind if they see these people there protesting. It would be real hard for me to handle it I know that."

According to Westboro's press release, the children's death is linked to the Supreme Court case and it blames society and the Perry County children's parents for their deaths.

"As far as the First Amendment, believe me, I'm all for the First Amendment, but I think there needs to be something done about stuff like this," Kramer said, adding he hopes legislators can find a way to take action on the issue. But until then, he said, he will do his part by being part of the human chain today.

"I feel it has to stop. There's a place and a time and a thing to protest. This is not the place, the time or the thing to protest," Kramer said. "It's like they breath off of somebody else's grief. It's like they love it and I just don't understand where they're coming from."

While the Pine Grove men know that often the church says it will protest something but doesn't, they believe that won't be the case today.

"I mean, it's right after the Supreme Court took that action, and I just think our country is going backwards," Stump said. "They'll probably be there and so will we. We're not the protesting type, but this is just wrong. That's how we feel anyway."

Stump said the group was given funding by the American Legion to make the trip to Blain, and what money they don't use, they will donate to the family.

"We know a lot more people wanted to go, but it's on a Tuesday. They have to work," Stump said.

Stump said the group will leave from the Legion about 7 a.m. Anyone interested in being part of the counterprotest may contact him at 294-3585.

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